HIST 219 Chapter Notes - Chapter 02-11: Moses Mendelssohn, Haskalah, Civilizing Mission
Document Summary
Repressive laws in germany led to urban elite b/coming jewish community leaders over rabbis. Tho were not enemies of rabbis--did not advocate giving up relig just also being modern. Haskalah was a new, secular jewish cultural movement. Example of a jew living btwn modern/relig worlds. Relig beliefs seen as a private matter. Ideal judaism was tolerant (of other faiths) and rational. Judaism was ideal relig for the secular state. Promoted civilizing mission, harmonizing jewish culture w eur. Movement later turned to campaigning to end disenfranchisement/econ discrimination. Development of ladino as lingua franca of community. Contact w italian jews further encouraged eur langs/ideas. Same ideas of moral reform and jewish inferiority as in east. Govt aided haskalah, hoping it would lead to integration. Not all that diff from other movements. Emphasized role of the state--which pushed secularization. Howev, blurred lines btwn integration and conversion created suspicion. Eventually, jewish students b/gan pursuing ed @ russian unis for societal advancement.
